Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Earlier last month, we heard that A.K. Shoe Repair on East Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue was facing a rent increase, which would leave the proprietor, Albert, either finding a new space or closing the shop that he took over from his father.

In the case of A.K. Shoe Repair, Albert P. says his landlord plans to more than double the monthly rent for his space at 350 E. 9th St. from $2,000 to $4,500. Adding that to the cost of electricity and gas, $500 a month, and the price of a month's supplies, $1,500, the price of keeping his business open would amount to roughly $270 a day. With those expenses, it's no easy task to turn a profit charging no more than $20 for rubber heel replacements.

Unfortunately only well made (expensive or at least worth the money you pay for them) shoes are worth repairing when the heels and souls wear out. It is the disposable fast fashion shoes which help in the demise of businesses like this one. Soon the solution to having something repaired be throw it out and buy another of even cheaper quality.

$270 per day times 30 days average per month means a operational cost of $8100 per month. I doubt this amount includes salary. I had shoes repaired last week which cost me $40, perhaps during the busy months a small repair shop will get 4 - 5 customers per day which is a potential $200. The whole point is in today's NYC a small business like this one which benefit a neighborhood (not tourists) can no longer exists unless they sell a high end product of service. How much will a laundromat need to charge per wash to covers its expenses as rents increase. Even these shitty newly renovated $3000 studio walkups don't have laundry facilities, but soon there will be no place to clean your clothes but lots of businesses that just serve a nightlife visitor.

I have a small business and can tell you the good months make up for the slower times of the year. I am fortunate my expenses do not approach $8100 per month.

The only good sign - and I'm grasping at straws here - is that I've noticed few people running around the EV on Friday/Saturday nights. And business is noticeably down during mid week nights. Other than that the only time rents have gone down - way down - was after 9/11. That's how bad the rent situation is in the city.

cmarrtyy - thats only because all the woohoos and bros have been out in the hamptons and wherever else america's entitled filth goes - they'll be back right after Labor Day. The college children have already returned. The fashion industry leaves NYC in the summer and they'll be back soon for fascist week.

I'm always sorry to see a shoe repair disappear. But I have to say, shoe repair will always be with us here in NYC, and the strong survive. You've got every kid from parsons, FIT, and JCC bringing their work to Hector's, you've got Pavlos and Andrade on the UES, and I have been bringing my shoes to Steve Express on 14th and 2nd for 15 years now. They are always busy. I blow more on shoe repair than I do on shoes! (practically)

What I don't get is when mean people who do mediocre work stay in business, looking at you shoe repair on 14th between 1st and A.

I personally don't know many young people that have decided to enter the shoe repair business. Therefore when these stores close in Manhattan we will need to got to Queens to find someone that can do this work. As commercial rents increase so would the prices to resole a pair of shoes, would you be wiling to pay $100 to give a pair of $200 a new life? There is a tipping point when the formulas is broken and a trade disappears for ever. When you can no longer make a profit at your trade you must give it up.

I like the place on 1st Avenue between 3rd and 4th or maybe 4th and 5th. They do good work and the guy is nice. Russian I think? Maybe I just like him because a couple of times he has asked about the shoes I've brought in and said they were very well-made--apparently a rarity these days!

Someone has to do something: I walked from 14th and A to the LES to SoHo to the West Village to the Meat Packing and back down 14th this weekend. You know how many empty retail spaces I saw? Well over 100. Maybe more. This is ridiculous.

1. AK was the best. Always speedy, fair price, good job. They'll be sorely missed.2. The place at 71 1st Ave. is terrible. I wouldn't recommend it.3. I think that the young guy, Alex, who took over for Albert, has moved his shop to Jamaica, Queens (according to a mutual Russian friend).4. Another useful business replaced by one that's completely useless and redundant.

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